DOUGLAS BISCHOFF, BANGERTER AIDE AND LONGTIME GOP WORKER, DIES

Well-known Republican candidate and party worker Douglas G. Bischoff died May 12, 1991, in Salt Lake City after a long battle with cancer.

At the time of his death, Mr. Bischoff was deputy chief of staff to Gov. Norm Bangerter. He'd served in the governor's office since January 1989, but his career in Republican politics goes back to the 1960s.Mr. Bischoff was one of the first and strongest backers of former President Ronald Reagan. He was chairman of Reagan's presidential campaigns in the state in 1968, 1976 and 1980.

As a state senator, Mr. Bischoff led the surprisingly successful Reagan delegate fight in 1968. His task was easier in 1976, when the former California governor became generally well-loved in Utah.

Mr. Bischoff was a leader in the conservative wing of the Utah Republican Party for years. He served as Salt Lake County GOP chairman in the 1960s and served three, four-year terms in the state Senate in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1986, Mr. Bischoff ran for the 2nd Congressional District. He won what was then considered an upset in the state GOP convention, beating Stan Parrish for a slot on the primary ballot with former Salt Lake County Commissioner Tom Shimizu, who defeated Mr. Bischoff in the primary.

In January 1989, Mr. Bischoff closed his optometrist business of 30 years - Bischoff Optical.

A viewing will be held at the Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be at noon Thursday in the Mount Olympus Stake Center, 3862 Oak-view Drive. Friends may call at the church prior to the services, from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Burial will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.